In this post:

• From a Tech Junkie
  
• Testing the Waters
• Check In
• Race Morning
• The Race

Tuscaloosa and iPhone
If you’re curious, I shot 95% of the video for the blogs on the new iPhone.  That’s why it’s hard to hear me sometimes and why the video is shakier as time marches towards race day (nerves).  I imported all of the videos from my phone at the end of the day and started playing with clip order, clip length, music, and more.  It was fun to try and allowed me to capture a more real experience at the sites.  Sometimes I looked silly, asking people if I could interview them with my phone, but I think it worked out just fine.

One problem, however, was when I was Tweeting in Tuscaloosa.  The network there hasn’t been upgraded, so posting pictures more or less crashed my phone.  I’m pretty much addicted to my iPhone, so I found out how crippled I can be without reliable access.

Testing the Waters
As I state in the video, the best reactions were from the people of Tuscaloosa.

“Ya’ll in town for the triathlon?”, says the waiter.

I would reply, “Yes sir.  Tomorrow morning.  Thought we would grab some food from your fine dining establishment and get ready to race!”

“Ya’ll swimming in the river?”, he’d asked.  I might add there was a bit of concern in his voice.

“Sure are.”

“Eeww.  Good luck with that.”  Nothing more was said.

It was a sort of joke between me and some other Sinners racing in Tuscaloosa about the water.  Little did we know it wasn’t what was in the water that would concern us.

Check In
I always love check in.  I have only been to two USAT National Championships.. my first being Hagg Lake, OR.. but the first one left a wonderful impression on me.  The place was buzzing with activity.  Presentations, videos, vendors.  The best was the vendor selling the swimming training device.  That guy had a crowd.  Some looked curious, some skeptical, some watching the people watching the guy.

The interesting part of check in was the reaction of race staff upon my presentation of my USAT card on my iPhone.  I had saved it that morning because I’ve misplaced my keychain version.  When I showed it to the young lady, and I regret not filming this.. because the look on her face was hilarious, she turned to the next guy and asked if they can take this as proof of membership.  I had my ID and the exact copy of the temporary card they offer on the USAT Membership Services page.  They let it through, but not before a little bit of a discussion.

They do it in airports now… why not triathlons?

Race Morning
Race mornings are why I continue to compete.  After I finished my track and field career at North Dakota State, I was burned out.  I couldn’t step foot on the track.  The thought of running fartlek’s sickened me.  As time marched on, I started to warm to the idea of competing again.  Finally, I entered my first triathlon two years ago on a whim.  “Why not,” I thought.  When race morning rolled around, I remembered why I love competition.  I love seeing the people meticulously plan their transition area.  I love watching people go through the motions when they enter transition from the swim, from the bike.  I love hearing the nervous laughter from across transition.  I love seeing the newbies look around and learn how to do things from the way “that guy that looks fast” does his.

This race morning was exactly that.  If you look around, you can pick up a tip or two from someone.  If you look around, you can help a frightened newbie understand how the transition area works.  If you look around, you can see exactly why you chose this sport.

The Race
The race.  Ah.  The race.  I will admit.  I was really jazzed for the race.  I have not ever competed in a non-wetsuit race.  Nevertheless, I was still confident that I could finish close to my best time of 25 minutes.  I’ve only been swimming for two years, but I think I’ve picked up enough to not freak out in the open water.

Gun goes off.  I feel really good around the first buoy.  So good that I pick up the pace.  Oddly, I notice people seem to be way off course.  I think to myself, don’t worry about them, just keep your eye on the yellow buoy.

Once we rounded the second buoy, the race changed.  I remember thinking the orange sight buoys were awfully far and not getting any closer.  By the time I swam by the orange buoy, I wondered how long I had been in the water.  I realized the people weren’t swimming off course, the current was taking them off course.

When I exited the water, I found out just how long I was in the water.  42 minutes. 42 minutes!  What happened to me!  Keep in mind, I hadn’t considered the recent rains I highlighted in a previous video.  Keep in mind, I hadn’t considered the river flow is controlled by a dam upstream.  Keep in mind, they opened the floodgates Saturday morning.  Also, keep in mind, I’m not training for an Ironman.

That made the race difficult on two fronts.  First, I was tired.  I’m not an efficient swimmer and I imagine my body position was creating massive amounts of drag, especially after 30 minutes. I’m not good enough and I don’t train enough to be in the water for 42 minutes.

Second, I was mentally wrecked.  Here I had been planning for a 25 minute swim.  I was going to get on the bike and drop the hammer.  Then I was going to do what I do best and run like a madman.  That’s the race I played in my head the whole weekend.  When I came out to a 42, I lost.  I let it get to me.  I was fuming at myself on the bike.  It wasn’t until I heard my wife of one week after the first lap.  “C’mon Aaron!  You can do it!”, I heard her cheer.  I put my head down and finished the bike strong.

Coming off of the bike was painful.  I was very tired and couldn’t muster the leg speed to carry me through the run.  I finished in a disappointing 48 minutes.

You can do two things with races like this.  You can get frustrated and give up.  You can curse the water, curse the bike, curse the run, curse triathlon and walk away…

…or, you can make hotel reservations in Tuscaloosa for 2010.

I’ll take a queen bed, please